I like to use all shades of green on the table during the holidays. Lime, apple and yellow/greens add so much more character when offset with traditional green. This china is not just for the holidays, but used year round. Look in your cupboards and get out anything green and mix it up.
The service plate above is English Spode Copeland. Finding a set of 12 of these in mint condition is what gives plate addicts like me a thrill. This is the kind of neglect I like -- neglected in the back of someone's china cabinet for 100 years -- never used. The white embossing around the edges is 2Die4. I love the flow of it. The scene in the center is of three musicians in a beautiful park overlooking a lake. I do believe it is a decal and not hand painted. Very romantic -- and you know I'm a romantic through and through. To preserve their mint condition, I do not put food on them that requires a knife or fork to eat so they do not get scratched. Their purpose is just to set the stage for the meal and then are removed for the first course. I feel I am the protector of these lovely items while they are in my care until passed to the next collector. It would be a real shame to damage them after they have remained pristine for so many years.
Another reason I believe the centers of the service plates are decals is that they are not signed. Most hand painted china of this era was signed because the artist was so proud of his/her work.
Sterling is Tiffany's Saratoga pattern from the 1870's. Sort of a tribute to Mr. Swede's Navy officer career in doing four of nine six-month cruises landing jets on the USS Saratoga (CV60) aircraft carrier, fondly known as Sinking Sara. This pattern is not rare but seldom seen. It is another well-balanced pattern, neither masculine nor feminine, so I like to use it for dinners for couples. Some sterling I have is very feminine and better suited for women's lunches.
White charger underneath is Anna Weatherley. It does great to bring out the white embossing of the plate.
What the service plates look like on the table set for six. When I buy plates, I try to get at least 12 since my table easily seats 12. I am overjoyed if I find a set of 14 or 18.
The white embossed design is raised and texturized. From the dining table, you can see the lime green ornaments on the staircase garland since the dining room is open to the hallway by arches.
I decided to keep the centerpiece simple and easy and not do a custom creation. These are two Lacecap Hydrangeas in a Napa Home grey cachepot with crystal ice garlands around the base.
Mini ornaments in two shades of lime are scattered around the garland and larger green ornaments are placed in silver mercury glass votive candle cups.
These appetizer plates in apple green are part of an antique English dessert service from around 1840 made by Coalport. I do not know the name of this batwing pattern.
The Coalport dessert service has 12 plates, four dessert servers and two pedestal cake plates.
Above, a wider view of the table showing the appetizer plates with their fabulous gold gadrooned edges on top of the dinner plates.
A good place to get assorted greens onto the table is with a choice of stemware. Here, left to right, is Varga's "Imperial" pattern in a highball, a traditional green goblet with a sculpted stem that I've had about 15 years but never knew the maker or pattern name, Varga's "Sharon" pattern wine glass, and far right is Waterford's "Colleen" pattern.
The dinner plates are French maker Raynaud's Festivites pattern.
I'm sure the "festivity" they are referring to is Christmas, but they dont shout Christmas in the pattern style, so you could use them at other times of the year.
Close up view of the dinner plate.
And, last but not least, I'm using these antique French Limoges fish plates for dessert because of the nice traditional green border. Love these plates. Twelve of these are in mint condition as well.
Quad of the setting changes.
This week I am linking to:
Centerpiece Wednesdays by the Style Sisters:
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/.
and Show and Tell Friday by My Romantic Home:
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Summer
Photos: Swede